Rich Putnam, a SkyGuard® Operations Manager and Senior Storm Warning Meteorologist has worked at AccuWeather for over 15 years. He oversees the storm warning meteorologists' day-to-day operations and ensures that SkyGuard customers receive high-quality services. Rich is responsible for organizing daily schedules, providing expert guidance on warning and forecast decisions, and working with clients directly to ensure they receive the best services to fit their business needs.
Rich’s interest in meteorology began as a child when he witnessed the impact of the Superstorm of '93 in New England. After earning his bachelor's degree in Atmospheric Sciences from Lyndon State College, he worked at a countertop manufacturing company while looking for job opportunities. After a year of searching, he interviewed with AccuWeather and was offered a position at their Severe Weather Operations Center in Wichita, KS.
Rich’s favorite weather to forecast is severe thunderstorms, specifically tornadoes. While forecasting these storms is challenging, Rich says it's rewarding to be able to provide advance warnings and keep clients safe.
His most memorable weather event was the Superstorm of '93 until May 29, 2021. That is when he witnessed the wedding proposal of his two best friends, AccuWeather’s Implementation Manager Thomas Bedard and SkyGuard Operations Assistance Manager Raya Maday. Thomas asked for Rich's help to plan the proposal, which he wanted to do in front of a tornado. Thomas knew that even though they all were trained meteorologists, he would need help to pull it off. That is where Rich came in to help. The first time they tried to find a tornado, it didn't go as planned. Not only did they not see a tornado, but the future bride-to-be nearly stumbled across the ring box while searching in a backpack. Fortunately, she didn't find the ring, which allowed Thomas and Rich to plan another day. The perfect day came in May when they encountered a Colorado storm. Their expertise and luck came together at the perfect time, giving Thomas the perfect backdrop to propose in front of a tornado.
Rich and his team make a significant difference in many businesses daily. One time in particular, Rich decided not to issue a tornado warning to a hospital during a severe thunderstorm. A hospital official called asking about the storm because they had several crucial surgeries about to start, and taking shelter would be detrimental to the hospital's operations. Rich and his team carefully considered all the meteorological variables and decided that the situation did not warrant an AccuWeather tornado warning. The decision proved to be the right one, and the storm passed without any harm. Because of this information, hospital officials decided to move forward with critical life-saving
procedures, showing that both a warning issued and a warning saved can be crucial to safety.
Rich says what he likes best about working for AccuWeather is the comrade and family atmosphere with his co-workers. The majority of the meteorologists have moved thousands of miles to join the team, and they have formed a strong bond. Many of them attend holiday gatherings, vacations, and other events together. When you know and trust your colleagues, it not only leads to a pleasant workplace but also provides the best possible experience for the client.
When Rich is not forecasting the weather, he loves to spend time with my wife, who also likes to storm chase. He also enjoys time with friends in the great outdoors, most notably hunting white-tailed deer, hiking, and golfing, and recently he has taken up drag racing cars.
Rich believes an essential piece of technology that he uses daily is AccuWeather’s patented internal warning software called SmartWarn. The tool overlays as much meteorological data as possible for clients, from real-time radar and satellite to ground truth observational and local storm report data. This allows Rich and his team to evaluate storms and issue warnings quickly. When seconds count, AccuWeather’s experience and software help give additional notice to clients before inclement weather impacts them. Want to learn more about how the AccuWeather For Business team that can help your business be better prepared for severe weather? Contact us today.
